Laurens, JOHN,
military officer; born in
Charleston,
South Carolina, in
1753; son of Henry Laurens.
Liberally educated in England, he returned to his native State just
as the Revolutionary War was kindling (1775), when he entered the
army as an aide to George
Washington, and frequently acted as secretary. Expert in the
French and German languages, he was Washington's chief medium of
communication with the foreign officers in the service. He was a
patriotic and brave soldier under all circumstances, and was devoted
to the commander-in-chief. On one occasion he challenged
General Charles Lee for speaking
disparagingly of the chief. They fought, and he severely wounded
Lee. In the battles at the
Brandywine and
Germantown, Laurens
was particularly distinguished; and afterwards, at
Savannah and at
Charleston and
Yorktown, he performed
prodigies of valor. At the latter place he was conspicuous at the
storming of a battery, and was the first to enter it and receive the
sword of the commander. For months his indefatigable activity caused
the confinement of the British in Charleston; and finally, at the
very close of the struggle, he too carelessly exposed himself in a
trifling skirmish near the Combahee, South Carolina, and was slain,
August 27, 1782. In the autumn of 1780, when the finances of the
United States were exhausted, he was sent to France to solicit a
loan. While earnestly pressing his suit with Vergennes, the French
minister, one day, that gentleman said that the King had every
disposition to favor the United States. This patronizing expression
kindled the indignation of the young diplomatist, and he replied,
with emphasis, " Favor, sir! The respect which I owe to my country
will not admit the term. Say that the obligation is mutual, and I
will acknowledge it. But, as the last argument I shall offer to your
Excellency, the sword which I now wear in defence of France as well
as my own country, unless the succor I solicit is immediately
accorded, l may be compelled, within a short time, to draw against
France as a British subject." This had the desired effect, for
France dreaded the subjugation of the colonies, or a reconciliation
with the mother-country. Presently a subsidy of $1,200,000, and a
further sum as a loan, were granted. The French minister also gave a
guarantee for a Dutch loan of about $2,000,000.

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